International disputes: Russia and Estonia in May 2005 signed a technical border agreement, but Russia in June 2005 recalled its signature after the Estonian parliament added to its domestic ratification act a historical preamble referencing the Soviet occupation and Estonia's pre-war borders under the 1920 Treaty of Tartu; Russia contends that the preamble allows Estonia to make territorial claims on Russia in the future, while Estonian officials deny that the preamble has any legal impact on the treaty text; Russia demands better treatment of the Russian-speaking population in Estonia; as a member state that forms part of the EU's external border, Estonia implements strict Schengen border rules with Russia.

Geography

Estonia is mainly a lowland country that is
bordered by the Baltic Sea, Latvia, and Russia. It has numerous lakes and
forests and many rivers, most draining northward into the Gulf of Finland
or eastward into Lake Peipus, its largest lake.

Government

Parliamentary democracy.

History

Estonians resisted the assaults of Vikings,
Danes, Swedes, and Russians before the 13th century. In 1346, the Danes,
who possessed northern Estonia, sold the land to the Teutonic Knights of
Germany, who already possessed Livonia (southern Estonia and Latvia). The
Teutonic Knights reduced the Estonians to serfdom. In 1526, the Swedes
took over, and the power of the German (Balt) landowning class was
reduced. But after 1721, when Russia succeeded Sweden as the ruling power
under the Peace of Nystad, the Estonians were subject to a double
bondage—the Balts and the czarist officials. The oppression lasted
until the closing months of World War I, when Estonia finally achieved
independence after a victorious war (1918–1920). But shortly after
the start of World War II, the nation was occupied by Russian troops and
incorporated as the 16th republic of the USSR in 1940. Germany occupied
the nation from 1941 to 1944, when it was retaken by the Soviets.

Estonia Becomes An Independent Nation

Estonia declared independence from the Soviet
Union in March 1990. Soviet resistance ensued, but after recognition by
European and other countries, the Soviet Union acknowledged Estonian
nationhood on Sept. 6, 1991. UN membership followed on Sept. 17. The newly
independent nation embraced free-market reforms. Fueled by foreign
investments, economic advances continued. In 2004, Estonia became a member
of the European Union as well as of NATO. In Sept. 2006, Toomas Hendrik
Ilves was elected president, defeating incumbent Arnold
Rüütel.

In March 2007, Estonia allowed Internet voting
for Parliamentary elections, becoming the first country to do so. Prime
Minister Andrus Ansip's Reform Party narrowly won the election, taking 31
out of 101 seats, just two more than the Centre Party.

Violent protests erupted in April 2007, when Estonian
officials moved a controversial bronze statue of a Soviet soldier from a
park in Tallinn and placed in it a military cemetery. One person died in
the protests and dozens were injured. Ethnic Russians—as well as the
Russian government—say the memorial honors Red Army soldiers who
died fighting Nazi Germany and object to its relocation. Estonians,
however, believe the statue glorifies Soviet occupation of Estonia.

In March 2014, Prime Minister Andrus Ansip resigned. Minister of Social Affairs Taavi Rõivas was selected by President Ilves to succeed Ansip. According to Ansip, he resigned to allow a successor to prepare and lead his party through the 2015 elections. When he resigned, Ansip was the European Union's longest-serving head of government. He had been prime minister since April 2005.